Category: NEWSLETTER

St. Paul’s Church Camp has been in existence for 40 years. This year’s camp will be July 23-28, 2017. It will be a week of fun, fellowship, swimming, faithfulness time, campfire songs, games, and much, much more. Campers will explore the Biblical story of Joseph through the musical “Joseph’s Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

St. Paul’s Church Camp is open to church youth and their friends who have completed third grade through eleventh. Feel free to pick up a registration form in the Gathering Area. Remember to register early…the earlier you register, the more the price is discounted!

If you have any questions about St. Paul’s Church Camp, please contact either Selma Taylor (715-344-3505) or Yvonne Chojnacki at (715-344-3557).
Camp scholarships are available. There is also a discount for families with more than two children.

“LET YOUR WORDS BE THE GENUINE PICTURE OF YOUR HEART” – John Wesley

Congratulations to Shannon Eckels and Aaron Karnatz on the birth of their son Quinn, born on February 22, 2017

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC
First Sunday of the month @ Point Location, in the library.

TAKE NOTE: In order for the church to provide the best care we can, people should let us know when someone is in the hospital or has moved to another caring facility.

DON’T FORGET . . . During the months of January, February, March and April to read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Share any insights with the pastor about your reading.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAMMING RUNS SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY

BASIC LAY SERVANT TRAINING

FESTIVAL OF GOD’S CREATION

This year, on April 23, Social Creed Ministry area will be leading us in a worship experience focused on

“Reducing Food Loss and Waste”. The amount of unnecessarily wasted food is staggering, so as Christ-followers we want to grow in being better stewards of the food we have.

GUEST PREACHER

On Sunday April 30, we will have a guest preacher who is really not a guest to our our congregation, rather one of our own. Candy Lisecki, the lay preacher serving the South Burr Oak congregation will be leading worship and Pastor Howard will be preaching at the South Burr Oak congregation. Candy is active in our congregation

through Disciples Diner, rummage sale and a Study Group. These pastor exchanges are a great way to remind ourselves of the connected nature of our denomination.

Needed from your closets, kitchen, bookcases, linens – good items for use for others in need. NO COMPUTERS, TV’S, GRILLS OR HEAVY OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT.

Workers are needed on Sunday, April 30 to move items from the stage to Fellowship Hall, after the 10:15 service; Monday, May 1 to set up in Fellowship Hall from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm; Tuesday, May 2, to work the sale 8:00 am – 6:00 pm; Wednesday, May 3 to work the sale 8:00 – 11:00 am, followed by clean up. MEN NEEDED to help with clean up, removing tables and loading leftover items in vehicles to take to St. Vinnie’s and Goodwill.

MANY hands are needed to make this run smoothly. If you can donate any amount of your time on either of the above dates, that would be appreciated. Please contact Bonnie at bonnielund@charter.net or 715-345-0247. All proceeds will go towards Church Camp Scholarships.

DISCOVERING GOD’S VISION FOR YOUR LIFE: “YOU AND YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS” – This course will provide a renewed understanding of who God created you to be and God’s design for how your giftedness shared, completes God’s mission for the church. The course will run for 4 weeks, 1:00 – 3:00 pm on Tuesdays April 4. Please call the church office if you would like to participate. Cost of materials is $8.00. Leaders: Randy and Patti Hermes, Mary Gurlea, Nea Miller.

PLACEMAT/COLORING MINISTRY – now meets in the gathering space (narthex), at the Point locations, on Wednesdays 5:00-5:30 pm. Come join us for a time of fellowship!

“LITTLE FREE PANTRY” – this project has had some delays, but we are getting closer to launch day! It will soon be on the post near the “Little Free Library”.

ON GOING CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES

Most of the on going study groups go through May, but will take a break for the Summer months, resume in the Fall. A new brochure with specifics will be out mid-Summer.

PLACE OF PEACE – continues through the Summer (3rd Thursday of the month).

MIDDLER/ SR. LUNCHEONS – continues through the summer with the exception of July.

BARHOPPING WITH THE PASTOR – continues through the Summer (2nd Thursday of the month).

Our goal in Adult Ministry is to “Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World” through Prayer, Care, Study, and Serving, so that we might live out John Wesley’s wise words… “DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN, BY ALL THE MEANS YOU CAN, IN ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN,IN ALL THE PLACES YOU CAN, AT ALL THE TIMES YOU CAN, TO ALL THE PEOPLE YOU CAN”. Amen

[/expand]

[expand title=”Staff Parish News”]

The Staff-Parish Committee continues to await patiently the work of the bishop and cabinet as they seek to fill our request for a second pastor. Be sure you continue in prayer about this important matter in our life together “making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

[/expand]

[expand title=”Trustees Committee”]

We often think of church trustees as the people to call when the roof leaks, the toilet breaks, the sink clogs or the parking lot needs plowed. This winter, we experienced all of those instances between the Point and Plover locations. Now that spring temperatures have arrived, your trustees are busy to getting things accomplished in the following ways:

The company that installed the roof over Hazel Cakins Hall, the library and Howard’s office are at Stevens Point to fix the leaks, replace insulation and re-install the shingles over the north section of the roof.

The flat roof portion of the roof in Plover will be replaced in early April.

We are in process of soliciting proposals for materials to remodel the bathroom and kitchen at the Plover parsonage.

Several portions of the St. Paul’s Ave sidewalk will be replaced by the city of Stevens Point later this spring.

We are evaluating alternatives to replace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems at the Point location.

Soon, we will begin getting estimates to repair the stucco and exterior letters for “St Paul’s” on the east side of the building at the Point locations.

Painting is expected to resume next month on the lower level in Plover.

Trustees meet on the first Thursday of each month and you are always invited to attend.

Income (Contributions)
Contributions have exceed the budget for January and February combined. I have deducted the Dedicated Income and Expenses, in order to have a truer picture.

EXPENSES

Expenses also are under budget for January and February, when you take out the Dedicated Accounts. Keep up the wonderful work of controlling expenses!

COMMENTS

I found this article during my reading and really liked how this author (Joel Mikell), put this. He had a way of saying how scripture teaches us that everything we are, everything we have, is a blessing and a gift from a loving and benevolent God. God loves his children and delights in demonstrating that love through generous, sacrificial giving. John 3:16 best illustrates that truth: God’s first gift, His beloved Son, His only Son, makes possible a second gift – eternal life. God demonstrated the correct order – God loved/God gave. This is the order with the creator, and so it should be with us. God has entrusted his blessings and gifts to us, but we must be reminded often that we do not own them. God still owns it all! We are caretakers, managers, guardians, stewards of the things of God. Our blessings are a sacred trust. And if we truly believe this, then every decision around our finances should call us to bring God in the conversationbefore decisions are made.

Deuteronomy 8:18 – Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gave you the ability to produce wealth.

Stephen Ministry is a system through which members of The United Methodist Church are trained and organized to help provide Christian caregiving to members of our congregation and community. This will multiply the amount of caring ministry The United Methodist Church can provide by giving us a whole team of skilled caregivers who are equipped to bring Christ’s healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis, or experiencing other stresses in life.

If you would like more information on our Stephen Ministry or know of someone who may be in need of a Stephen Minster, please contact Pastor Howard or Randy Hermes, Coordinator.

The purpose of the pantry is to act as hands of the community to serve the Portage County residents in need of supplemental food. The pantry serves any resident of Portage County, commonly including unemployed, underemployed, elderly, handicapped, single parent or large households.

The pantry provides regular service twice per month, the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 6 to 8 PM. The pantry serves an average of 650 persons (about 160 households) at each pantry or about 1,300 persons (320 households) per month. Each household receives food in proportion to household size: about 50 to 80 pounds of food per each pantry. Items distributed include meat, potatoes, frozen products, canned and boxed items, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy items, eggs, bread and bakery items.

MISSION FOCUS – APRIL
Cleaning and Laundry Products

GHANA UPDATE

Many have asked the status of the “Help Joseph Heal” fundraising effort for Joseph Fosu from Ghana. To date, there has been $3,385 collected. If you have any questions regarding this amount or how you can help, please contact John Munson or Joy Pennell.